Worker bees gather a sweet, watery substance called nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive in a spare stomach. They then regurgitate the nectar into the honeycomb cells and fan it to remove its water and create honey.
Honey is able to last forever due to its combination of a lack of water and its acidity. This creates an inhospitable environment for potential invading microorganisms. Another key factor is the glucose oxidase enzyme added to the nectar from the interior of the bee’s stomach. This enzyme, once mixed with the nectar, breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid. The hydrogen peroxide further prevents the growth of any bacteria.
Honey may be the only everlasting food that you can eat right out of the jar. Pots of honey, over thousands of years old, have been found perfectly preserved in the ancient tombs of Egypt!